This really nice satellite shot from polar orbiting noaa19, shows a classic frontal depression covering the greatest parts of Greenland. The center of the depression is situated really close to the Neem Site so the weather for the ice core drillers will be extremely poor: overcast, snow, blowing snow and warm! Linked to this depression you can see a waving coldfront (to the South of the site). A wave on the coldfront usually means that the system will slow down in its Eastern progression. So could be a while that the weather remains poor over Neem. (c) Sat Image from Weather Office Canada.

General
The warm impulse i mentioned yesterday has developed to a classic frontal depression that lays overhead the Neem site, hence Northern Greenland. Products suggest that this system will linger there for a while as it is really reluctant to evacuate.

21/07/10 - day 1
- Wind: SW 18-23kt, after 18/21utc becoming 12-17kt (average).
- Weather: multilayered and solidly overcast with snow and blowing snow. Poor conditions. No significant change. Blowing snow weakens overnight.
- Temperature: Min06utc=-7°C dayMax(18utc)=-4°C

22/07/10 - day 2
- Wind: S to SSW 10-15kt, after 18/21utc becoming 8-13kt.
- Weather: still solidly overcast with periods of snow. Snow fall becomes a little weaker but still no significant improvement.
- Temperature: (6utc)=-7°C (18utc)=-3°C.

23/07/10 - day 3
- wind: 18/21utc becoming S 4-8kt.
- Weather: similar to previous day: very cloudy to overcast with periods of snow or snow showers.
- Temperature: (6utc)=-8°C (18utc)=-3°C

No satellite image availble but this is a nice picture of the Horseshoe Valley - Patriot Hills, Antarctica(c) Marc de Keyser

High temperatures are the main concern of ‘the guys on the ice’. Hopefully they get at their destination really soon so they can put on some nice dry and clean socks!

Day1-25 May @Kangatsiaq
Wind: SE 12-17kt becmg ESE 5-10kt
wx: sunny
Temps:+2C later +6C

Day2-26 May @Kangatsiaq
Wind: SE 7-12kt nsc
Wx: sunny
Temp:min+3C/max:+8C

Day3-27 May @ Kangatsiaq
Wind: SE 4-8kt becoming weak/calm
Wx: sunny later some low clouds
Temp:min+4C/max:+10C

Advice: hey guys, need swimming trunks? Still high temps even during night. let me know when you arrived. cheers. marc.

At Kangatsiaq!

Typical landscape on the West coast of Greenland. (c)Marc De Keyser

At this time of the year the weather at the Greenland iwest coast is pretty hot! Positive temperatures all day long, climbing as high as  +10C! Hope they didn’t run out of sun screen.

Day1-24 May @ Kangatsiaq
Wind: SE 15-20kt nsc
wx: sunny
Temps:+2C later +8C

Day2-25 May @ Kangatsiaq
Wind: SE 5-10kt, turning to E
Wx: sunny
Temp:min+3C/max:+10C

Day3-26 May @ Kangatsiaq
Wind: SE 8-12kt becmg 5-10kt
Wx: sunny.
Temp:min+4C/max:+10C

Again hot and sweaty on the Ice Cap. During daytime temperatures exceed easily 0°C, which makes the snow very sticky. However  the wind is pretty good to kite, they could reach Kangatsiaq (68,330/-50.000) their new destination.

Day1-23May 67.8/-47.8
Wind: SE 15-20kt nsc
wx: enlarging sunny spells
Temps:0C later +3C

Day2-24May N68.2/W48.8
Wind: SE 14-18kt, after 9/12utc SE 12-16kt
Wx: sunny
Temp:min0C/max:+2C

Day3-25May N68.3/W50: Kangatsiaq
Wind: SE 12-16kt, after 15utc
Wx: sunny.
Temp:min-2C/max:+2C

Advice: still good wind conditions: very warm: sticky snow, traveling at night will NOT make a big difference. Take care, be carefull.

Oh yes, this is Carl allright! Not on the icecap of Greenland, but near Patriot Hills, Antarctica (c) Marc De Keyser

Excellent kite conditions to go all the way!

Day1-22May 67.6/-47.5
Wind: SE 14-18kt nsc
wx: clearing becmg sunny
Temps:-6C later 0C

Day2-23May N68.3/W47.5
Wind: ESE 15-20kt, after 15utc SE 10-15kt
Wx: sunny spells.
Temp:min-4C/max:0C

Day3-24May N68.8/W48.5
Wind: SE 14-18kt, nsc
Wx: sunny.
Temp:min-4C/max:0C

Advice: good wind conditions: use ESE to goNorth and on day 3 use SE to go West. Possibly, if ur lucky you’ll arrive on day 3. keep going!m

Channel 3 Sattelite Image of Greenland: dark patches indicate areas with liquid water content: (precipitable) low clouds (c) Picture: Weather Office Canada

General
The latest sat shot shows a significant patch of low level moisture to the West of the site. According to the model output, this should affect the site as from tomorrow. However i would not be surprised if this poor weather spell should start later today.

21/05/10 - day 1
- Wind: S 5-10kt, after 12/15utc becoming S 8-13kt.
- Weather: hazy/foggy with patches of low Stratus clouds. Sunny spells as well. Some larger sunny spells after 15utc but airmass remains relatively moist with possible ice accretation.
- Temperature: Min06utc=-20c dayMax(18utc)=-12C

22/05/10 - day 2
- Wind: SSW 8-12kt, after 15/18utc becoming SW 12-16kt. 
- Weather: gradually increasing cloudiness, after 12/15utc becoming overcast with slight snow. No significant change during the rest of the day.
- Temperature: (6utc)=-16°C (18utc)=-18°C.

23/05/10 - day 3
- Wind: SSW 8-13kt, after 18utc becoming S to SSE
- Weather: overcast with slight snow, improving after 15/18utc, becoming sunny.
- Temperature: (6utc)=-6°C (18utc)=-4°C.

For those who doubt: this is NOT Carl! (c) Marc De Keyser

Wind and weather for the ‘guys on the ice’:

Day1-21May N66.2/W45
Wind: S 12-17kt nsc
wx: overcast with snow, improving nxt nite.
Temps: -9C later 0C

Day2-22May 66.5/-46.3
Wind: SE 14-18kt nsc
wx: further clearing becmg sunny
Temps:-8C later 0C

Day3-23May N67/W49
Wind: SE 13-18kt, after 12/15utc SE 7-13kt
Wx: sunny spells.
Temp:min-4C/max:0C

Advice: poor weather conditions tomorrow, good wind; becoming warm again, sticky snow-consider travel during nite. In general quite good wind conditions. m.

Forecast 19 May: poor weather is coming but also good winds to kite!

Day1-20May N66.5/W44
Wind: calm, after12utc: ESE5-10kt later SE 10-15kt
wx: sunny spells, after 18/21utc increasing clouds, later snow.
Temps: -26C later -10C

Day2-21May 67.3/-44.3
Wind: SE 15-20kt after 18/21utc SSE 10-15kt
Wx: overcast with snow
Temps:-14C later -4C

Day3-22May N66.8/W44.2
Wind: SE 15-20kt, after 15utc SE 13-18kt
Wx: overcast with slight snow, soon enlarging sunny spells.
Temp:min-6C/max:-2C

Advice: recover as much North as you can, especially with the ESE. With the S to SSE you can tac to the west again. Poor conditions, good wind. marc.

Latest Satellite Image of Greenland: vast cloud systeem over Northeast Greenland with the well defined and spectacular closed depression off shore the North East coast of Greenland. Over the Southern parts of Greenland, mainly good conditions with some more extensive cloud to the West of the divide. (c) Weather Office Canada 

Weather forecast for the next three days on the Greenland ice cap, sent to the Carl and Jon by iridium phone. At this moment they are close to the divide, typically a place with slack wind. However there is some hope, late on the second day the wind should pick up (from SE) and continue through the next day. Fingers crossed!

Day1-19May N66.01/W44
Wind: calm, after12utc: SW-W 4-8kt-nsc
wx: sunny spells
Temps: -22C later -12C

Day2-20May
Wind: SE 4-8kt after 18/21utc increasing to SE 15kt
Wx: sunny spells and cloudy periods
Temps:-24C later -12C

Day3-21May N66.8/W44.2
Wind: SE 13-18kt, slightly decreasing after 15utc.
Wx: very cloudy with possibly some sl snow.Later clearing.
Temp:min-5C/max:-10C

Advice: t’ow the SW is expected to be pretty weak, however try to go as far N to W as u possibly can, that rewards on day 3. On day 2 wait till wind picks up after 18/21utc.

At this moment no sat shot of Greenland available. But i am sure a pic of the North Pole is not bad either. (c) Weather Office Canada

Latest positions of Carl and Jon:

Day1-18May N66.250/W42.900
Wind: NW 13-18kt after 15/18utc becmg less than 5kt
wx: sunny, later more clouds
Temps: -20C later -12C

Day2-19May
Wind: calm, after 15/18utc temporarily 4-8kt; after 21utc again calm
Wx: cloudy periods weak sunny spells
Temps:-16C later -8C

Day3-20May
Wind: SW 8-13kt later 10-15kt
Wx: sunny,patchy cloud
Temp:min-30C/max:-15C

Advice: third day is uncertain: depends where you are. Go t’ow and the day after as far west as possible. Once at the western side you can go more northwards.